East Providence High School
9th Grade Physics First Honors
Observation:
In East Providence students have four minutes to get from class to class and this is virtually impossible. The school hallways are quite crowded and the school is pretty large. Mr. Swan allows for a small amount of tardiness but only about another two minutes. He is required to stand out in the hallway while the classes are changing. He stand right across from the door so that he can still see into the classroom and can greet the students as they walk in. He has an assignment on the board already so that they can begin as soon as they come in. Before the bell even rang the students were working on an assignment that will go into their portfolio they will need to graduate. As the bell rings he walks into class and observes the class very quickly, greets the class and takes attendance on a palm pilot while still talking to the class. He began class about two minutes after the bell rang by making telling the class the goals of the class and what will happen if the goals weren't met. They were finishing this assignment and anything that they didn't finish would be homework. He didn't collect any homework that day because they weren't given any that night. For the remainder of the class the students worked to finish the assignment. He walked from group to group to assist any student that needed help and keep them on task.
Reflection:
I think that I will open class in a very similar way by addressing the students on what the class will consist of and what the goals of the class will be. In doing this the class will know where they are in the lesson and wont be surprised by any work they might receive that day. It's is a type of motivator if they know that they can finish this in class and then not have any homework. Also they might not rush to finish if they know they will have more time so they will do a better job if it's something that might require being a little more careful. The only thing that I might do a little differently is to have a little refresher before they start the work. I found that some of the students had maybe forgotten of just needed a little reminder of the things they have covered last class.
9th Grade Physics First Honors
Observation:
In East Providence students have four minutes to get from class to class and this is virtually impossible. The school hallways are quite crowded and the school is pretty large. Mr. Swan allows for a small amount of tardiness but only about another two minutes. He is required to stand out in the hallway while the classes are changing. He stand right across from the door so that he can still see into the classroom and can greet the students as they walk in. He has an assignment on the board already so that they can begin as soon as they come in. Before the bell even rang the students were working on an assignment that will go into their portfolio they will need to graduate. As the bell rings he walks into class and observes the class very quickly, greets the class and takes attendance on a palm pilot while still talking to the class. He began class about two minutes after the bell rang by making telling the class the goals of the class and what will happen if the goals weren't met. They were finishing this assignment and anything that they didn't finish would be homework. He didn't collect any homework that day because they weren't given any that night. For the remainder of the class the students worked to finish the assignment. He walked from group to group to assist any student that needed help and keep them on task.
Reflection:
I think that I will open class in a very similar way by addressing the students on what the class will consist of and what the goals of the class will be. In doing this the class will know where they are in the lesson and wont be surprised by any work they might receive that day. It's is a type of motivator if they know that they can finish this in class and then not have any homework. Also they might not rush to finish if they know they will have more time so they will do a better job if it's something that might require being a little more careful. The only thing that I might do a little differently is to have a little refresher before they start the work. I found that some of the students had maybe forgotten of just needed a little reminder of the things they have covered last class.